Background
Methods
Objective, study design and setting
Participants
Data collection
Statistical analyses
Results
Patients and medicines
Characteristics of patients (n = 340) | n | (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
Sex | Women | 230 | (68) |
Men | 107 | (32) | |
mda: 3 | |||
Age (years) | [65, 75] | 13 | (4) |
[75, 85] | 111 | (33) | |
[85, 95] | 172 | (50) | |
[95, 104] | 43 | (13) | |
md: 1 | |||
Place | Hospital | 304 | (89) |
Nursing home | 36 | (11) | |
Disabilities | Swallowing disorder | 53 | (16) |
md: 4 | |||
Muscular or rheumatologic disorders of the upper limbs | 81 | (24) | |
md: 6 | |||
Cognitive impairment | 210 | (62) | |
md: 4 | |||
Number of prescribed medicines per day | 1–4 | 31 | (9) |
5–9 | 147 | (43) | |
≥10 | 161 | (48) | |
md: 1 |
Characteristics of medicines (n = 59) | n | (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
Formulations | Oral solution | 17 | (29) |
Powder for oral solution | 11 | (19) | |
Oral suspension | 6 | (10) | |
Powder for oral suspension | 4 | (7) | |
Drops for oral solution | 4 | (7) | |
Divisible effervescent tablet | 3 | (5) | |
Dispersible tablet | 3 | (5) | |
Other (2% < n < 5%): Syrup; Effervescent tablet. | |||
Other (n ≤ 2%): Powder for oral and rectal solution; Oral gel; Injection and oral solution; Prolonged release granules; Divisible tablet for oral suspension; Dispersible or chewable tablet; Dispersible coated tablet | |||
Flavoring agents | Presence | 40 | (70) |
Absence | 17 | (30) | |
mda: 2 | |||
Therapeutic subgroups (ATCb - 2nd level) | Analgesics | 10 | (17) |
Drugs for constipation | 8 | (14) | |
Psycholeptics | 7 | (12) | |
Antiepileptics | 7 | (12) | |
Psychoanaleptics | 4 | (7) | |
Mineral supplements | 4 | (7) | |
Antibacterials for systemic use | 4 | (7) | |
Other (2% < n < 5%): Drugs used in diabetes; Drugs for acid related disorders; Antithrombotic agents | |||
Other (n ≤ 2%): Thyroid therapy; Beta blocking agents; Anti-parkinson drugs; All other non-therapeutic products; Antimycotics for systemic use; Antimycobacterials; Antihemorrhagics; Antianemic preparations |